I recently came across this cup and saucer at the Writers Museum. It originally belonged to Wilhelmina Alexander, or “The Bonnie Lass o’Ballochmyle”.

The Bonnie Lass o’ Ballochmyle was Wilhelmina Alexander (1753-1843) who was a sister of the laird of Ballochmyle, on the banks of the River Ayr. Shortly after the successful publication of the Kilmarnock edition of his poems, Burns was walking by the banks of Ayr when he spotted Wilhelmina Alexander, the sister of the landowner.

On base “cup and saucer that belonged to the ‘Lass of Ballochmyle’. To James Ballantine Esq. author of the ‘Gaberlunzie’s Wallet’ with every sentiment of personal esteem by John Crawford, Alloa, Oct. 26th, 1864.

He was deeply impressed and penned a poem ‘The Bony Lass O’ Ballochmyle’ which he sent to her with an effusive covering note. She did not acknowledge it; not unsurprisingly perhaps, in view of the intimacy of his sentiments (and the implication that she would have reciprocated them). But over the decades, as Burns’s legend grew, Wilhelmina would not be parted from the now precious manuscript. She died, a spinster, in Glasgow in 1843.

This weeks fascinating object comes courtesy of the Writers Museum in Edinburgh. Yes, that’s right, it’s a sword once owned by the bard himself. He used this swordstick in the course of his duties as an exciseman.

Excise was a tax similar to V.A.T. but collected at the point of manufacture or import rather than at the point of sale. A wide range of goods was liable for it, mostly notably silk, tobacco and spirits. Burns as a gauger had to calculate and collect the tax due. Thus in addition to improving a run down farm he had to travel over 200 miles per week on horseback collecting excise duties and complete the necessary bookwork during his evenings. For this he received £50 per year plus £50 for every smuggler arrested and half of any goods seized.

Sword-stick which belonged to Burns while he was an excise officer at Dumfries.

R. Burns engraved on handle.

Although he had two full-time jobs and his health was not good he found time to write many songs. The long hours on horseback allowed him to work over verses.

Fortunately in July 1790 he was transferred to the Dumfries Third (or Tobacco) Division which reduced his weekly mileage. He was good at his job and popular with his superiors. His standard of living on the farm was above average and he could employ farmworkers to help him with the improvements.